TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2021) – The University of South Florida Board of Trustees (BOT) today provided the university community with key updates on the search for USF’s next president.
BOT Chair Will Weatherford announced a broadly representative, 15-member presidential search committee that will be led by Mike Griffin, vice chair of the USF Board of Trustees. The committee membership follows guidelines established by the Florida Board of Governors for presidential searches.
The full committee:
- Mike Griffin, chair
- Melissa Seixas, vice chair
- Tammy Allen
- Derrick Brooks
- Lisa Carlton
- Braulio Colón
- John Couris
- Julia Cunningham
- Oscar Horton
- Patrick Hwu
- Ken Jones
- Mark Mondello
- Debbie Nye Sembler
- Sylvia Wilson Thomas
- Jose Valiente
“Each member of the presidential search committee brings a unique perspective on the University of South Florida, and their diverse viewpoints will be valuable as this process moves ahead. I have full confidence in this esteemed group of individuals, who care deeply about USF and its future,” Weatherford said. “The search committee has a central role to play in finding our next great president and I thank the members of the committee in advance for their willingness to serve.”
Today the BOT selected the firm of SP&A Executive Search to serve in support of USF’s presidential search. The search committee will work closely with the firm to:
- Prepare a position description for USF’s next president that aligns with USF’s mission, strategic plan and aspirations. The position description will be developed in consultation with USF’s stakeholder groups, including opportunities for public input, and submitted to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
- Identify, screen and interview the most qualified candidates, including offering opportunities for non-search committee members to interact with the finalists and provide feedback to the search committee.
- Recommend an unranked list of finalists for consideration by the Board of Trustees.
All search committee meetings will be open to the public. The full USF Board of Trustees will vote to select USF’s next president, subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors.
###
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report’s national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF has earned widespread national recognition for its success graduating under-represented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher income students. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.